England football legend avoided bankruptcy with 11th-hour payment to HMRC

FORMER Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has avoided bankruptcy with an 11th-hour payment to the taxman.

An HMRC official told an insolvency and companies court yesterday that the money he owed had been paid in full.

PAJohn Barnes has avoided bankruptcy with an 11th-hour payment to the taxman[/caption]

A hearing in February was adjourned to allow “settlement negotiations”.

Megan Vanderhook, who represented HMRC, indicated that Barnes, 59, owed at least £200,000.

She told that hearing  the ex-Watford ace had repaid £100,000.

Barnes was not in court yesterday, instead represented by his barrister.

The Jamaica-born midfielder has since tried his hand as a manager, author, commentator and pundit.

He was declared bankrupt in 2009 over tax debts just days after being fired as head coach at Tranmere Rovers.

At the time, Barnes said the issue was a “tax oversight”.

The order was later rescinded.

According to Land Registry documents, the World in Motion rapper was also the subject of bankruptcy petitions in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2019.